Facebook to offer group chat messaging and video via Skype

Poking is so 2009. Facebook just introduced some new group chat and video functionality that will make the already popular social network even more indispensable. Facebook has slowly replaced personal and corporate webpages, it has also displaced email and instant messaging as the primary way friends like to connect real-time now it gets even more immersive.

Facebook users who are using the chat service can now have group chats with multiple users simultaneously. Facebook has also integrated video via Skype right from their Facebook interface, the service will roll out today but anyone wanting to try out the video aspect can check it out here.

No software installation is necessary and the  Facebook says it currently has 750 million users sharing 4 billion things every day, Skype hosts 300 million minutes per month of video calling. These new features are for the web version of Facebook and will not yet be part of their mobile clients.

Facebook released the following statement on their website, "For those of us who have been working on this, it's particularly exciting to bring video calling to over 750 million people. We're making this available in over 70 different languages, so friends can stay in touch all over the world."

The Apple Beat: Games ruling the App game

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The first wave of iPad 2 challengers for the year have shipped or have at least found themselves in the hands or reviewers but it seems not one is convincingly a runaway hit. We now have Google's Android, RIM's PlayBook and HP's webOS all with players in the game but the iPad 2 seems to have the momentum going into the second half of the year.

Click to read more ...

Apple Expo 2011 Canada happens next week

Apple Expo 2011 will take place on July 12 at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre. There's still time to regaister for this yearly Mac and iOS centric event. Starting at noon to 7PM. Lots of new showcases on Mac products as well as App development, iPads and iPhones. Many learning seminars to attend.

Details 

Registration to Expo: $20

Registration to Conference sessions (includes full access to Expo): $50

For more information or to register: www.appleexpo.ca 

Simply enter the promo code PK679 when you register, for a $10 off your entrance fee.

HTC Sensation comes to Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile is offering the flagship HTC Sensation Android smartphone for $149.99 (3-year-plan) and $549.99 outright. With a 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch qHD screen and an 8 megapixel camera with video recording as well as HTC Sense running on Android 2.3, this is one of the major smartphone releases of 2011 and a definite contender in the most powerful handset race.